Darren Fletcher played 90 minutes in Manchester United Under-21s' 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers on Monday night.
Fletcher has not started a professional match in over a year, as he has attempted to combat the chronic bowl illness which sidelined him for six months of the 2011-12 campaign.
The Scot turns 30 in February and his contract with the champions expires in 2015.
Fletcher congratulates Zaha on his opener
He was joined in the line-up by Wilfried Zaha, who has made just one competitive appearance under David Moyes this campaign.
The England winger opened the scoring at Leigh Sports Village, following a one-two with Fabio da Silva, and prolific academy goalscorer James Wilson clinched victory with a second.
Zaha agreed to join United in January for £15 million when Sir Alex Ferguson was still the club's manager, however he has hardly figured in the first-team despite an auspicious pre-season.
Blackburn U21s 0-2 United U21s
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(01 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Darren Fletcher of Manchester United U21 controls the ball during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(02 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Wilfried Saha of Manchester United U21 controls the ball during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(03 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Manchester United U21 Manager Nicky Butt looks on as Fabio Da Silva warms up during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(04 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Fabio Da Silva of Manchester United U21 leaps over the tackle of Robbie Cotton of Blackburn Rovers U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(05 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Andreas Pereira of Manchester United U21battles with Robbie Cotton of Blackburn Rovers U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(06 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Saidy Janko of Manchester United U21battles with Raheem Hanley of Blackburn Rovers U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(07 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Charni Ekangamere of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(08 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Wilfried Saha of Manchester United U21 controls the ball during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(09 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Wilfried Saha of Manchester United U21 celebrates his goal with team mate Darren Fletcher during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(10 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Wilfried Saha of Manchester United U21 controls the ball during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(11 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Fabio Da Silva of Manchester United U21 battles with Jordan Slew of Blackburn Rovers U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(12 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Darren Fletcher of Manchester United U21 crosses the ball under pressure from Darragh Lenihan of Blackburn Rovers U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(13 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Wilfried Saha of Manchester United U21 battles with Darragh Lenihan of Blackburn Rovers U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(14 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Darren Fletcher of Manchester United U21 looks on during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(15 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Reece James of Manchester United U21 rom Jordan Slew of Blackburn Rovers U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(16 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Fabio Da Silva of Manchester United U21 battles with Jordan Slew of Blackburn Rovers U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(17 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Simon Johnstone of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(18 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Darren Fletcher of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(19 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: James Wilson of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(20 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Joe Rothwell of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(21 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Wilfried Saha of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(22 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Reece James of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(23 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Darren Fletcher of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(24 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Darren Fletcher of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(25 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Darren Fletcher of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(26 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Fabio Da Silva of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn U21 v Manchester United U21 - Barclays U21 Premier League(27 of27)
LEIGH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Darren Fletcher of Manchester United U21 during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Blackburn U21 and Manchester United U21 at Leigh Stadium on December 02, 2013 in Leigh, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)